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The Seiko Dive Watch SNM035 Simply Looks Good

Good looks can be one of the best reasons for buying a dive watch. We cannot all become professional divers or serious amateurs, but many of us can appreciate a highly functional timing instrument like the Seiko Automatic Dive Watch SNM035. Designed according to its functions and features, in classic dive watch style, the Seiko SNM035 looks more like a tool than a fashion accessory, and to me that’s its appeal. What many of us like about a watch designed and built for the rigors of diving is that no-nonsense utility appearance. Still, if you happen to dive, what a tool it is.

The Seiko Dive Watch SNM035 Simply Looks Good

The dive tool features of the Seiko SNM035 include its bold, unidirectional rotating bezel with 60-minute scale and luminous marker at the 12 o’clock position for delivering crucial dive time data. For those of you who may not be aware, dive bezels are unidirectional so that if they are bumped or otherwise accidentally adjusted, the dive time that the bezel is set to gauge can only be shortened. Otherwise, if the bezel were bidirectional, a diver could unexpectedly run out of air, because the “adjusted” bezel readout indicates more available underwater time than air tank capacity permits.

Besides the critical timing bezel, a watch made for diving needs to be clearly legible in low light or murky conditions. For that reason, this Seiko watch is designed with large luminous hands and hour markers. Do these over-sized hands and markers make a fashion statement? Well, they are prominent and obvious, so yes they do, but the purpose behind them is not style but function–viz., clear legibility. An underwater instrument also needs to resist water under pressure from getting inside, so the Seiko SNM035, with its twin screwdown crowns and screwdown caseback, is built to withstand submersion to 200 meters, far deeper than most of us will ever need to go.

The harsh underwater environment also demands high durability and corrosion resistance, so the Seiko SNM035 dive watch is crafted with 316L surgical grade stainless steel for optimum longevity. Nevertheless, a freshwater rinse is still advisable after exposure to salt water. The bracelet that holds this watch in place is also made with 316L stainless steel, and equipped with a fold-over push-button deployment safety clasp and a dive extension for fitting snugly over a wet suit or other outer wear.

One of the most obvious features of the Seiko SNM035 is its size. Dubbed the “Monster,” its 45mm x 15mm case is quite a wrist full that makes a very strong impression. Once again, the purpose behind the large size is not fashion per se, but function. The Monster’s dimensions provide easy readouts, and make its function rich features possible, which includes housing a fine Seiko automatic movement within.

Because precise timing is crucial for successful diving adventures, accuracy and reliability are all important. Here the Seiko 7s35 automatic/self-winding movement, with 21 jewels and 42 hour power reserve is well up to the challenge. Automatic movement means that you never need to worry about a battery giving out just when you need the time most, a very useful feature when your life may depend upon precision timing.

As if all of the above were not enough, Seiko has equipped its Monster dive watch with a 360-degree compass scale on the dial flange which is fully rotatable for setting bearings and solar/stellar navigation, made adjustable by the crown at the 4 o’clock position (the crown at 2 o’clock adjusts date and time).

To wrap up, the Seiko Automatic Dive Watch SNM035, the Monster, does indeed make a dramatic fashion statement, undergirded by the top tier functionality spelled out above. It projects images of extreme adventures and risk-taking in harsh environments, and with its function-oriented, tool-like design, it conveys confidence in the face of challenges. In short, it simply looks good, for those who dive and for those of us who may never dive.